, 1887-03-03

dents signature to become law.
j. j. b.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The senate
proceeded to the consideration of the
naval appropriation bill. An amend
ment was inserted in the item for Il
bureau Of steam engineering, provid-
ing that no part of the appropriation
shall be applied to the repair of en-
gines and machinery of wooden ships
where the stated cost of repairs shall
exceed twenty per cent. of the cost of
new engines and machinery of the
same character and power. Under
the head of Increase of the Navy"
the committee recommends striking
out the house provision for two swift
double-bottomed steel cruisers and for
four gunboats to cost, exclusive of
armament not more than S4 $50 900,
and the substitution of new sections
providing for six protected steel crus-
ers with a speed not less than twenty
knots, to cost, exclusive of armament,
not more than $9,OOO,0O0, and appro-
priating that amount; also appropri-
ating for armament of such ves-
sells $2,8S0,OOO; also appropriating
six millions for heavily ar
mored vessels or floating bat
teries or rams for coast and harbor
defences; also appropriating $500, 900
for torpedo boats, and 100000 for
torpedOes also$ 800, 600 for armament
for these vessels.
Grey questioned the policy OF the
provision requiring one OF the six
steel cruisers to be built on or near the
coast of the Pacific ocean and two of
them on or near the coast of the Gulf
Of Mexico. This was tramelling the
secretary of the navy and interfering
With the general objects proposed.
He was in favor of the accomplish
ments of that section proposed, name
ly, the erection of six swift, available
and efficient cruisers and therefore he
moved to strike out that provi-
sion.
Hale (who has charge of the billy
stated that when the ten cruisers bill
was up some weeks ago similar pro-
vision had been adopted. After full
discussion on the motion of the sena-
tor from Alabama, (Morgan) he had
believed then and believed now that
ono or two of these vessels could be
built and built speedily on the Pacific
coast. The committee on appropria-
tion had embodied those features
in this amendment taking a
proportionate number Gas the whole
number had been cut DOWN and in
stead Of giving two to the Pacific coast
had given one, and instead of three
to the Gulf of Mexico had given two,
leaving three to the Atlantic coast.
Gray moved his motion so as to
make it read that as IL shall appear to
the president that vessels cannot be
constructed at fair cost on the Pa
cific or gulf coast he may consider
and accept bids for building said
vessels Mt other places, instead of sus-
pending their construction until
further action of congress.
Maxey said there should be at least
ono great navy yard established on
the Gulf coast where the best iron,
steel, live oak and long leaved pine are
Mt hand.
The question was then taken on
Gray's amendment rs modified and it
was rejected.
Plumb moved to strike out the item
OF $6,OOOOOO for heavily armed ves-
sells, or batteries or rams for coast de-
fcnse.
Hale opposed striking out of the
item.
Dawes said he had just received II
telegram from New York signed AM
brose, chairman of the chamber of
commerce, of the committee on coast
defenses and president of the board of
Trade and transportation. That tele-
gram was in these words: "The whole
commercial community anxiously
hopes that some agreement, providing
adequate and immediate coat defense
wall be had. If not public opinion
will compel an extra session, which
business men would dread, send
duplicates hereof to yonr fellow con-
ferrees." Dawes said if congress nd.
iOurned without this provision as IL
was intimated the telegram which he
had read, public opinion was going TO
force an extra session of congress- To
make this provision. The fault did
not lie at the door Of the senate or of
the senate conferreea.
Pending further discussion the senate
went into secret session and so took
recess till s O'Clock.